Inflatable illuminable toy



Jan. 16, 1968 J. G MQRAN 3,363,350

I NF LATABLE ILLUMINABLE TOY Filed Sept. 27, 1965 JAY/WES G MO/QA'A/ INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 16, 1968 3,363,350 INFLATABLE ILLUMINABLE TOY James G. Moran, 122 N. Rose St., Burbank, Calif. 91505 Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,439 Claims. (Cl. 40-10654) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inflatable toy suggestive of a human figure having a ventilated compartment at the backside containing a light source and a rotating image projector for casting a pattern inside the walls of the figure.

This invention relates to animated, inflated and illuminated figures and is an improvement of my previous Patent No. 2,748,256, issued May 29, 1956, entitled Inflatable Illuminable Figure. Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an animated, inflatable illuminable figure formed of translucent material and which, when inflated, may suggest a human or animal figure or any other figure animate or inanimate and which incorporates a ventilated compartment Within one side of the figure but isolated from the remainder, the compartment having a light source and a transparent wall so that the interior of the figure may be illuminated but the heat incidental to illumination may be dissipated.

Second, to provide a toy of this type wherein a heat operated motor may encase the light source so as to rotate and produce an animated pattern on the outer wall of said figure, the motor being so arranged that it is well ventilated thereby to minimize transfer of heat to the walls of the figure.

Third, to provide a toy of this type which incorporates a novelly arranged compartment at its base end adapted to be filled with water so that the toy tends to stand upright.

Fourth, to provide a toy of this type which, when inflated with air and its base filled with water, may be relatively large; but when emptied of water and deflated, forms a compact and light-weight bundle.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a substantially diagrammatical back view of the top as it appears when inflated.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatical transverse sectional view taken through 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Specification The inflatable illuminable toy includes an envelope 1 formed of flexible but essentially non-stretchable plastic material such as the various vinyls or polyethylene. The material chosen is preferably translucent or transparent and painted or otherwise decorated to suggest a human or animate figure, such as that of a clown, Santa Claus, and the like. Also, the figure may suggest an inanimate object, such as a bottle, but not limited to, or geometric shapes.

For purposes of illustration, the envelope is shown as including a body portion 2, a neck portion 3 and a head portion 4. The body portion is closed by a bottom wall 5.

Formed in the periphery of the bottom wall is an annular collapsible tube 6 also formed of plastic material, such as vinyl or polyethylene. The annular collapsible tube 6 is adapted to be filled with water through a filler tube 7 which may be folded and tied to seal the water therein. A similar inflation or filled tube 8 communicates with the interior of the envelope 1 and may be located at the top of the head portion 4.

At the back side of a body portion 2, there is provided a cell 9 formed of relatively stiff or rigid plastic. The cell 9 includes a bottom wall 10 which is preferably flat, and curved side walls 11. One side of the cell is open and provided with flanges 12 which may be cemented or otherwise bonded to the envelope 1 so that the cell 9 forms a pocket or recess in the rear side of the body portion which is sealed from the interior of the envelope.

The open side of the cell 9 is provided with a cover member 13-. The side margins of the cover member and the cell adjacent the flanges 12 may be provided with rib and groove interlocking means 14, such as indicated in FIGURE 4. The top and bottom ends of the cover member 13 are spaced from the flanges 12 so as to form upper and lower apertures 15 and 16 communicating with the interior of the cell 9.

The bottom wall of the cell 9 supports a lamp base 17 which receives a lamp 18. Suitably secured to the lamp base 18 is a frame 19 which extends over the lamp and is provided above the lamp with a needle journal 20. The needle journal supports a rotor disk 21 having a central socket 22 which is rotatably supported on the needle journal 20.

The rotor disk 21 is provided with a series of vanes 23. A cylinder 24 depends from the periphery of the rotor disk and surrounds the lamp 18. The cylinder 24, as well as the wall 11, may be painted with various patterns. The patterns on the cylinder and Wall function together to produce various animated eflfects which are projected on the walls of the envelope 1.

Operation of the inflatable illuminable toy is as follows:

The envelope 1 is inflated with air or other gas until the walls of the envelope are under tension. The collapsible tube 6 is filled with Water. The weight of the water within the tube 6 holds the envelope in a normally upright position. The lamp 18 may be connected to an outside electrical source or battery, not shown, may be provided in the cell 9.

It is desirable that the lamp produce enough heat so as to cause an upward flow of air through the aperture 16, into the cylinder 24 and out the aperture 15. In doing so, the cylinder 24 rotates, causing any pattern which may be painted or otherwise formed thereon to be transmitted through the walls 11 of the cell and onto the walls of the envelope 1. The nature and type of pattern may be varied as desired. If a complementary pattern is provided on the walls 11, a composite image of the patterns provided on the cylinder 24 and walls 11 are transmitted to the walls of the envelope.

The patterns may be such as to make the figure appear to be walking or performing another movement, such as undulations of the midsection to suggest a laughing clown or Santa clans. Or, if the figure is that of an inanimate object, such as a bottle, the movement may simulate the movement of bubbles in a liquid-filled bottle, or the downflow of wax on a candle. Many other mobile effects are possible.

It should be noted that the flow generated by the lamp not only serves to rotate the cylinder, but produces sufficient flow to carry away the heat generated and minimize heating the walls 11 of the cell 9 or the walls of envelope 1.

It will be noted that when the envelope 1 is deflated 3 and the tube 6 is emptied of water, the envelope and collapsible tube may be folded into a compact package not much larger than the dimensions of the cell 9 so that for purposes of transportation or storage, the figure is relatively small; yet when inflated, the figure may be of substantial size.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animated, inflatable and illuminable figure, comprising:

(a) a sealed envelope .formed of flexible translucent plastic material adapted when inflated to form a three dimensional figure;

(b) a cell formed of relatively rigid plastic of at least translucent material sealed to a wall of said envelope;

(c) means defining a lower entrance opening and an upper exit opening for the flow of air through said cell;

(d) a heat responsive motor in said cell including an at least translucent, rotatable cylinder provided with an animating pattern thereon;

(e) and a light and heat source in said cylinder for inducing flow of air into said entrance opening, through said cell and out said exit opening to operate said motor while minimizing transfer of heat to the walls of said cell.

2. An animated, inflatable and illuminable figure, ac-

cording to claim 1, wherein:

(a) the Walls of said cell are also provided with a pattern to modify light transmitted through said cell to the walls of said envelope.

3. An inflatable figure, comprising:

(a) an envelope formed of flexible, translucent plastic material adapted, when inflated, to form a three dimensional figure, said figure having an opening in its side wall;

.- (b) a cell formed of relatively rigid plastic transparent material, defining a side opening, and including a flange bordering the margins of said side opening and dimensioned for sealing engagement with the margins of said envelope opening; said cell further including a base portion and upwardly directed walls 10 joined to the flange;

(c) a light source mounted on said base portion; (d) a removable cover for the opening in said cell, said cover having inlet and vent apertures at its lower and upper sides for circulation of air around said light References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,016 7/1951 Ford etal 2,726,320 12/1955 Damiano 40106.54 2,748,256 5/1956 Moran 240 10 35 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD CARTER, Assistant Examiner. 

